The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See 384 pages

Li-Yan is a young Chinese girl who lives in a remote village that farms tea. Her people are far removed from modern society, quite primitive with superstitious laws. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane follows Li-Yan’s life from her humble beginnings to her success as a tea shop owner and purveyor. The novel also follows the life of her daughter who is adopted by an American couple.

Sometimes See told me more about the different types of teas and their gathering and fermenting processes than I cared to know about. However, I found descriptions of Li-Yan’s culture and beliefs fascinating.